Real
Every Real since 1918 — 421 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Real
Real is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1918, 421 American babies have been named Real — about 94% boys and 6% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2012, when 16 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Real stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Real year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | 7 | #10,680 |
| 2023 | — | — | 10 | #8,129 |
| 2022 | — | — | 10 | #8,173 |
| 2021 | — | — | 9 | #8,680 |
| 2020 | — | — | 9 | #8,579 |
| 2019 | — | — | 7 | #10,567 |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | 6 | #11,781 |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | 9 | #12,029 | 7 | #10,514 |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | 5 | #14,036 |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 5 | #19,855 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | 6 | #10,572 |
| 2002 | 7 | #13,306 | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | 5 | #11,911 |
| 2000 | — | — | 8 | #8,035 |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | 7 | #4,146 |
| 1965 | — | — | 5 | #4,314 |
| 1960 | — | — | 6 | #3,968 |
| 1955 | — | — | 8 | #3,153 |
| 1950 | — | — | 7 | #3,257 |
| 1945 | — | — | 5 | #3,676 |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | 8 | #2,896 |
| 1930 | — | — | 11 | #2,569 |
| 1925 | — | — | 11 | #2,711 |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Real in 2025?
Real did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Real?
421 babies have been named Real in the United States since 1918, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Real most popular?
Real peaked in 2012, when 16 newborns received the name.
Is Real a boy or girl name?
Real is used for both: about 6% of babies named Real have been girls and 94% boys.
Is the name Real rising or falling?
Real is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.